M50401: Designing and Optimizing Database Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Before attending this course, students must have: * Working knowledge of data storage. Specifically, they should know about row layout, fixed length field placement and varying length field placement. * Knowledge about index structures and index utilization. Specifically, they must understand the interaction between non-clustered indexes, clustered indexes and heaps. They must know why a covering index can improve performance. * Hands-on database developer experience. Specifically, they should have three years of experience as a full-time database developer in an enterprise environment. * Knowledge about the locking model. Specifically, students should have an understanding of lock modes, lock objects and isolation levels and be familiar with process blocking. * Understanding of Transact-SQL syntax and programming logic. Specifically, students should be completely fluent in advanced queries, aggregate queries, subqueries, user-defined functions, cursors, control of flow statements, CASE expressions, and all types of joins. * Knowledge about the trade offs when backing out of the fully normalized design and designing for performance and business requirements in addition to being familiar with design models, such as Star and Snowflake schemas. They should be able to design a database to third normal form (3NF). * Strong monitoring and troubleshooting skills, including usage of monitoring tools. * Basic knowledge of the operating system and platform. That is, how the operating system integrates with the database, what the platform or operating system can do, and how interaction between the operating system and the database works. * Basic knowledge of application architecture. That is, how applications can be designed in three layers, what applications can do, how interaction between the application and the database works, and how the interaction between the database and the platform or operating system works. * Knowledge of using a data modeling tool. * Knowledge of SQL Server 2005 features, tools, and technologies. * Have a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 credential – or equivalent experience.